Publisher's Synopsis
This Special Issue of the journal Neuropsychological Rehabilitation aims to focus attention on key issues, to heighten awareness and stimulate interest in research on treatment of coma and persistent vegetative state. The first two papers are written by Professor Brian Jennett and Dr. Keith Andrews who present opinion on ethical issues and treatment in patients in persistent vegetative state. These papers are followed by a review of scales for measuring behavior in coma by the Southampton group together with the results of a pilot study on a new scale. There follows a paper on the clinical assessment of coma by Dr. E.A. Freeman and then a review of previously published studies on sensory stimulation as a treatment of coma by the editors. Finally, there are four research papers. These are on learning during coma by Dr. Barbara Wilson and the Southampton group; sensory regulation and recovery in coma by Dr. Rodger Wood and the Los Angeles group; evaluation of sensory stimulation using single case methodology in prolonged coma patients by workers at the Royal Home and Hospital, Putney; and on the effect of intense multi?sensory stimulation on coma arousal and recovery by the Philadelphia group.
